Beautiful Port Macquarie by Louis Adelt
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For the last eighteen and a half years, I have travelled the North Coast of New South Wales and have, on many occasions when visiting the ancient and historical town of Port Macquarie, felt inclined to write you my impressions of the place.
When entering the town on Thursday last, I was much struck with the picturesqueness of the town and its surroundings from the hill at the junction of the Kempsey and Taree Roads, and as far as the eye could reach, a series of pretty pictures were presented to one’s gaze, and far into the distance the Pacific Ocean spreads out into one vast sheet of blue.
As the eye takes in the scene of the coastline with its many headlands, bays and inlets, stretching far away into the dim perspective with the many fine beaches, washed by white and curling-topped breakers, it makes me feel inclined to sojourn here and take a rest from the worries of the present-day world with all its tumult and sorrow.
As one proceeds into the township familiar landmarks come into prominence — the old square-towered Church of England stands out with the two sentinel Norfolk pine trees at its entrance towering up to a great height, planted many years ago, of which, could they speak, many a tale of the old regime could be told.
I have always considered Port Macquarie, the pick of the North Coast beauty spots, and if better known by the touring public, would be visited more often and by larger numbers of people. For a holiday I could not recommend a better place, as there is all that the holiday seeker could wish for - fishing, shooting, boating, and sailing, to say nothing of the excellent beaches where surf bathing can be indulged in to one’s heart’s content.
I often think it is a great pity that this place is not better known by the public, and if the people of Port Macquarie would only wake up and stir themselves and realise what a rich asset their town and surroundings would be to them, they would advertise its many charming spots and bring them under the notice of the Tourist Bureau in Sydney.
Someday Port Macquarie will be the centre of a big fruit-growing industry, and particularly for the growing of grapes for the table or for wine-making purposes.
Shire Vagaries
The greatest surprise sprung upon the rate payers of Hastings Shire since the inauguration of local government was the appointment last week of an absolute novice to the office of Engineer – a position which necessarily carries the most responsible trust within the gift of the Council.
We know nothing against the person referred to as a private citizen, but we have yet to learn that he has qualified for the duties of the office to which he has been appointed. To appoint any Jack, or Harry to the position (even temporarily) is to imply that in the opinion of the Councillors the attainments deemed legally necessary for a qualified civil engineer are quite superfluous.
The action of the Council is beyond the comprehension of the ratepayers and it is not only an insult to their intelligence and that of the departing Engineer, but a flagrant and disgraceful waste of public money.